Self-lubricating fan



Aug. 26, 1930. A. WEYDELL SEL'F LUBRIGATINQ FAN Filed Dec. 16, 1927. 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENOR.

A.zel Wydell ATTORIVEYJ Patented Aug. 26, 1930 I -UNlTED STATES: EN IC AXEL WEYDELL, OF INDIANAE'OLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T HOUIDAILLE-HERSHEY CORPORATION, A CORPOR ATION OF MICHIGAN .SELF-LUBRICATINGIFAN Applicaton filed Deiembez 16, 1927. Serial No. 240,519.

This invention relates te a novel fa,n eoi1- struction of the gei1erl type employed in connection witheutomobile engines and'is directed more prticulerly to che problcin of providing dependable automatc lubrication therefor.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a fan structure embodying a f0rce 'eed lubrieating mechanisnl operated by the rotation of the fan. k

Other objects re1ate to features of constructon and design conducive of si1np1icity end cheapness of manufacture.. 7 h

Illustrated embodiments of my irivention 1 are found in the acc0mpanying drewings wherein,

Figure 1 is alongitudinal sectional vew 0f a fan constructed in accordance Wth my invention,

F ig. 2 is an end view thereof With the fan spider reinovedto better illustrate theconstruction Of the pump. V

Fig. 3 s a view simila r te Fig. 1 of a further embodiment of my invention, end

F ig. 4 i a View similar to Figi 2 illustrating said furthef embodiment. 1

In accordance With conventional practice, 1ny nove1 fan construction is journaled upon (L stationary or fixed spi1dle 1. The body .of the fan supporting Structure comprises un e10ngated leeve 2 having at one end th'ereof a radielly extending flange 3. l\1y inventon is directed primarily to the problem ef efiiciently lubricating the beaing sui-facesof the spindle 1 and the e10i1gated sleeve 2. On the enter fece of the flange 3 is mounted fanspider 4 which, es hereiri shown, is in the forni ofa plat-e 01 disehaving rvldially extending end migulrly disposed' arme-1' wheteoh the" fan bla.des 5 mey be moxlnt ed in zujy suitable mamier. The fan spider m&y bebolted or otherwise Sec ured to the end fece of the flange 3 andthe jointb'etweeh the1n may be provided with packing ,of any ap proved type.

S1irroundirg the spindle 1 end sec1ired te thereztr fece of the flange 8 is a cylindrical.

] .ubricant containing casing 6. This casing 1s prefembly bolted to the face of the flange end the j oint thus formed is' provided with a s uitable packing to prevent the leakage 0f lubricent. At its rear end this cnsing elosely surrounds the spindle and is provided et this point'with suit eb e packirig 20. Forxned in .therforward faceof the flange 8 is a recess of substantial depth Wherein I locate 1ny 'novel' lubrieztnt pumping construction. This recessed flange, togetherdwith che centrul portion of che fan spider 4 coopemte to provide un oil tight ennular lubricent ehamber. Locuted within this chamber and secured te the spindle, is, a puinp 'casting 10 wherein is mounted a recip'rocable, spring; pressed pump plungef 11. The inner peri'pheral wall of the recess is located eccentric with respect to the 21Xis of the spindle end thu s provides an eccentric track 01 raceway Whereon che outer end of the pump Plunger 11 isadapted te bear and by means of which this"plnnger is reciprocated by the rotaton of the fan. The' motive force for mpelling the plunger outwardly is furnished in the form of a spring 12 loemted between the inne? end ci che 'plunger and the bottomof the plungerboard.

A check valve eontrolled discher'ge port 15 is formed inthe purnp castin'g end leads to an annular recss 16 formed in the sleeve 2 edjacent the bearing surface thereof With the spindle 1. This disehm-ge port -is controlled by a ba1l or other suitable type of check valve 13. The lubriczmt is dniwn into the pump through the inlet port 14 and is forced thereby to the bearing surfecee above mentioned. V The pump cesting' fulfills the function of a thrust washer by rea s0n 0f subs tantially filling the space 'between thefiend of hub 2 end the fan spider 4. n this manvner the-longitudinel thrustin che fan structre inonedirection is taken by the fece of the punnp cest-ihg' edj'acent the end fece 0f the sl eeveend in the other dirction is taken by the plain fece of.the pump casting adjacent the inne1 Surface of the fan spider.

The housing 6 is adapted to eonbain a sup-, p1y of' lubricantand is furthe1 adapted te discharge lubricant fromthis supplythrough the port 8 in the flange 3 end into the xrecess 9 formed by the flange and the fan spider.

A pulley'orother suitable driving means may be formed or mounted on the heusing' 6 for operating the fan to which it is secured. A filler plug of any suitable type may be mounted in this lubrcant cusing. In order to prevent the leakage of lubricant around the spindle 1 at the point where it passes through the end of casing 6, a spirally arran ed roove is formed in the inner surface of txe sfiaeve 2 and so directed that lubricant is fed from adjacent the packing 20 forwardly of the spindle and is discharged through the radial apertures 19 of the sleeve.

In operation, a, supply of lubricant baving been placed within the casing 6, and the casing rotated by any sutable means, such lubricant Will assume the form of an annular luyer around the inner periphery of the rasing and a portion thereof Will be discharged centrifugally through the port 8 and into the chamber 9. F rom this chamber the lubricant thus furnished Wll be taken in by the pump and forced through the discharge port 15 to the bearing surfaces of the sleeve 2 and spindle 1. By means of tbis construction the lubrication 01 the. beuring surface of Che fan is uutomaticully and positvely provided for.

It Will be understood that a plurality 0f pumping elements may be provided in the chamber 9. Thus, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4-, a casting 10 may be substituted for the casting 10, said casting comprising two diametrically opposed parts, each of which is provided with a bere which contains a spring pressed pump plunger 11. The ele1nents associated with said plungers are silnilar to the elements described in connecton with the modification already described and are idenfified by the same numerals with the addition of primes thereto. It Will be readily understood that the operation of each of the pumping elemenfs is identical with that previously described, With the exception that un in creased amount of lubricant is supplied to the bearing sulfaces in consequence of the duplication of the pumpng elements.

T be horein described embo(l in1cnts 0f my invention are but twn of many forn1s in which the fundanxenta] features of my invention might be carried into effect. I therefnre contemplate such changes i1s full w thin the scope of mechnniral skill and WHIH the range nf equivalents. Fnr example the pu1np cast ing 10 instead of being secmed t0 t-he fixed spndle 1, might be semxred (0 or formed m: a.- part of the radial flange 3, in Wbich case the eccentric track or raceway could be provided un the spindle. This would simply be a reversal of the relationship of parts as shown in the drawings.

Having described one form of my invention and the best manner in which it may be carried into effect, what I clam is:

1. In a device of thecharacter described, the combination With a fixed spndle, of an elongated sleeve rotatably mounted on said spindle, a radially extending circular flange ntegral with one end of sad sleeve, acylindrical lnbrcant chzunber enclosng said spindle and sleeve and secured to one face of sad flange, the opposite face of said flange beng profl led wth a.n cccentrically disposed recess and having a fan spider secured thereo t0 constitute a second lubricant chamber, means for centrfugally discharging lubricant from the first said chanlber info the second said chamber, a pump casting located in said second chamber and secured to said spindle, snid castng havng a radal bere, a reciprocating spring pressed plunger disposed in sai-d b0re and. having engagcmcnt at its enter end with che nner periphery of the eccentrically disposed recess, and nlet and dis charge parte in suid cnstng, the lattcr beng so disposed as to feed lubricant under pressure to the bearing surfaces 0f said hub and spindle.

2. In a device r f the character described, the combnation Wi.ib n fixe(l spndle, of a fan structure jomnzrled thereon, said fan structure embodying two communcating lubricant chzunbers, a reciprocating punrp mounted on s:1i l spndle nnd. located. wthin one of said chnmbers and adapted to receve lubricant from the other said chamber end force the same between the bearng surfaces of said fan structure nnd spndle.

3. In a devce of [be character deserbed, the combnntion witb fixed spindle, of a fan structure rotntably n1nunted thereon, said fan structure en1bodying two communicatng lubricnnt chambers, the inner peripheral wall of one of said chzunbers being eccentrically disposed with reference to the axis of sad spindle, a pump disposed in said last mentioned chamber and secured t0 sad spindle, said pump embodying a spring pressed reciprovating plunger adapter t0 bear ab its outer end on sad eccentr, :aUy disposed wa1l, and ports f0r receiving lubricant from snid chmnbcr and dschnrging the same to the bearing surfaces 0'E suid fan structuro and spindle.

4. In a device of tbe character described, the cmnbination with 21 Ixefl spindle, of a fan structure rntatably nmunted un said s uindlu, said fan strucfnre embodyng n.- ]u3ricflnt clmmber, a pmnp casting carried by one of snid olernents, un ecventrie truck carrier] by the other nf Said elements and a spring pressed reciprmrable plunger mounbed in said castin and engaging eaid eccentric track and a disc mrge port leading from said pump casting to the bearing surfaces of said fan structure and spindle.

5. In a devce of the character descrbed, the combinution with a fixed spindle, of a fan sttucture rotatably mounted on sad spindle, said fan structure embodying a lubricant chamber, a puxnp casting consisting 01" tW0 diametrically opposed parts carred by one of said elements, an eccentric track formed on the other of said elements, each of said castng parts having a bora formed therein, a Flunger reciprocal in each of said bores and 1aving 2m end engaging said eccentric track and a. discharge port leadng from each bora to the bearing surfaces of said fan and spindle.

6. In a device of the charactei descrbed, the combnaton wth a fixed spindle, of a fan structure rotatably mounted thereon, said fan structure embodying two communicatng lubricant chambers, the inner perpheral Wall of one of said chambers being eccentrically disposed with referenc to the axis of said spindle, a pump dsposed in sad last mentioned chamber and secured to said spindle, sad pump embodying a body portion secured to sad spindle and having diametrically opposed bores formed theren, a plunger disposed in each of sad bores and having their outer ends in engageinent with said eccentric Wall, sad body portion havng inlet and discharge ports therein, the latter beng disposed adjacent the bearing surfaces of said fan structure and spindle to supply lubricant thereto and means f0r urg1ng said plungers outwardly into engagement With sad eccentridwall.

7. In a devce of the character desorbed, the combnation with a fixed spndle, of a fan structure journaled thereon,said fan structure-embodying two communicatng lubricant chambers, a plurality of reciprocatk ng pumps mounted on said spndle and 10- cated wthin one of said chambers and adapted to receive lubrcant from the other sad chamber and force the same between the bearing surfaces of said fan structure and spindle.

8. In a devce of the character descrbed, the combnation wth a fixed spindle, of a fan structure rotatably mounted thereon, said fan structure embodying a lubricant chamber, a plurality 0f pump bores carriel by one of said elements, an eccentric truck formed on the other of said elements, a ph mger receptacle in each of said bores and having an end engaging said eccentric track 'and a discharge port leading fro1n each bore to the bearing surfaces of said fan and spindle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

AXEL WEYDELL. 

